Panel mounting system for electrical connectors

Abstract

A system is provided for mounting an electrical connector to one side of a panel or other planar substrate. The connector includes a housing having a mounting face with a mounting boss projecting therefrom. The boss includes an enlarged head portion. The panel includes an aperture shaped for receiving the enlarged head portion therethrough such that the boss is rotatable in the aperture from a first insertion position and a second mounted position of the housing whereat the enlarged head portion overlaps the opposite side of the panel. Resilient detent latches on the housing snap into detent recesses in the panel automatically when the housing is in its second mounted position to lock the housing thereat.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for mounting an electrical connector to one side of a panel, comprising: a connector including a housing having a mounting face with a mounting boss projecting therefrom, the mounting boss including an enlarged head portion;   a panel including an aperture shaped for receiving the enlarged head portion therethrough such that the boss is rotatable in the aperture from a first insertion position and a second mounted position of the housing whereat the enlarged head portion overlaps the opposite side of the panel; and   wedge means on the underside of the enlarged head portion of the boss for engaging the opposite side of the panel and drawing the housing against the one side of the panel in response to said rotation of the housing from the first position to the second position, said wedge means comprising a tapered rib having a maximum thickness nearer the boss and a minimum thickness nearer the periphery of the enlarged head portion to define a gap between the panel and the underside of the enlarged head portion that is narrower near the boss than near the periphery of the enlarged head portion   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein said tapered rib is of deformable plastic material whereby the rib can be deformed when the housing is rotated to the second position. 
     
     
       3. A system for mounting an electrical connector to one side of a panel, comprising: a connector including a housing having a mounting face with a mounting boss projecting therefrom, the mounting boss including an enlarged head portion;   a panel including an aperture shaped for receiving the enlarged head portion therethrough such that the boss is rotatable in the aperture from a first insertion position and a second mounted position of the housing whereat the enlarged head portion overlaps the opposite side of the panel; and   wedge means on the underside of the enlarged head portion of the boss for engaging the opposite side of the panel and drawing the housing against the one side of the panel in response to said rotation of the housing from the first position to the second position, said wedge means being a narrow rib of deformable plastic material which can deform when the housing is rotated to the second position.